Injury exodus leaves Sharks on back foot

By CHRIS RATTUE

The Sharks could be left with just one fully fit back on their reserves bench for Saturday evening's match-up with the Chiefs in Hamilton.

The Sharks have been one of the major disappointments of the season, but have had a heavy injury toll to deal with.

Past or present Springboks John and Philip Smit, Ollie le Roux, Albert van den Berg, Ricardo Loubscher, Deon Kayser and Justin Swart were not available for this tour, during which they also play the Crusaders, Blues and Reds.

The Sharks were down to nine fit backs, then centre Trevor Halstead limped out of training at their Whangamata base with a hamstring problem, which could leave new halfback Josh Fowles as the only back on the bench ready for serious action.

The 23-year-old Fowles, cousin to the Sharks' other halfback, Craig Davidson, will be the fifth halfback used by the Durban-based side this season.

Meanwhile, Chiefs wing Shayne Austin will be unavailable this week after the death of his mother.

The Chiefs, who name their side today, still have hooker Greg Smith, halfback Rhys Duggan and wing Roger Randle in doubt through injury. Fullback Loki Crichton, who has yet to play this season because of a knee injury, returns to club rugby this weekend.

Sharks (probable): Brent Russell, Wylie Human, Andre Snyman, Rudi Keil, Stefan Terblanche, Butch James, Craig Davidson, Brad Macleod-Henderson, Shaun Sowerby, Roland Bernard, Charl van Rensburg, AJ Venter, Etienne Fynn, Gary Botha, Eduard Coetzee. Res: Josh Fowles, Trevor Halstead, Wayne van Heerden, Luke Watson, Johan Muller, BJ Botha, Deon Carstens.

* Backline stars Matthew Burke and Mat Rogers were yesterday recalled to the Waratahs for tomorrow night's clash with the Hurricanes in Wellington, although a question mark lingered over Rogers.

Captain and centre Burke returned to the team after recovering from a knee injury which kept him out of last weekend's win over the Crusaders in Sydney.

Fullback Rogers, who also missed that match due to a foot problem, was named in the starting side for tomorrow, even though doubt remains over his fitness.

"Mat is still recovering from a foot injury, so we'll see how he pulls up in the next day or so," Waratahs coach Bob Dwyer said.

Super 12 rookies Milton Thaiday and Morgan Turinui, who scored three of the Waratahs' four tries against the Crusaders, were demoted to the bench to make way for Burke and Rogers.

The fifth-placed Waratahs have never won away to the Hurricanes.

The latter are the form team of the competition, having won their last five games.